Candida Albicans, yeast infections, nail fungusand athlete's foot

Candida - possibly the most under diagnosed condition ?We have more bacteria than cellsso having the good guys ( not bad bacteria) is critical for good health.

My approach to yeast infections has been refined over a period of years based in the first instance on my own personal struggle with this pernicious condition. It is based on strengthening the immune system,eradicating the yeast, adjusting the diet and pH so that yeasts will not thrive in future, reducing the inflammation and damage to the lining of the gut and establishing good gut flora. Immune function depends on a healthy gut. So hence, there is quite a lot of important work to do ! Ignore candida at your peril !

Yeast infections cause untold misery and frequently go undiagnosed. If you have taken several courses of antibiotics, take the contraceptive pill, or had chemo therapy,the chances are your gut flora has been disturbed/destroyed and candida has taken a hold.There are many other circumstances including receiving the wrong bacteria or no bacteria at all ( if you were bottle fed) from your mother's milk.

Candida is a form of yeast that naturally lives alongside millions of other bacteria in the intestine. There are over 200 different strains of candida, of which Candida Albicans is the one most often referred to and the most pernicious.It has a rather sombre purpose which is to assist with decomposition after death. It is therefore not surprising that an overgrowth is undesirable whilst we are still alive !For years, Doctors denied the possibility that candida could cause illness because it is not foreign to the body and they couldn't test for it. As a result millions of people, especially women with thrush, suffered years of misery and unnecessary antibiotic treatment whilst the medical profession scratched their head ! Sadly these antibiotics only served to make the condition worse. Thankfully, medical opinion has changed and it is now widely recognized - destroying the healthy bacteria in the gut actually opens the door to candida and a host of other unwanted visitors to the intestine.

The major waste product of candida is acetaldehyde which produces ethanol (alcohol). Ethanol may be great in cars but in your body it causes excessive fatigue and reduces strength and stamina. In addition, it destroys enzymes needed for cell energy, causes the release of free radicals that can damage DNA and causes yet another problem for the liver. Ethanol also inhibits the absorption of iron. Because iron is one of the most important oxygen supporters in the blood, ethanol in your body creates low oxygen levels. This is why fatigue is a common symptom.Low oxygen levels will cause fatigue and depress immune function.Adrenal exhaustion often accompanies candida and is another cause of fatigue.

Candida thrives on the modern western diet., processed food, simple carbohydrates, alcohol, moulds, sugars and common medications, especially after antibiotics. Stress weakens the immune system and also plays a part as does long term use of the contraceptive pill.

Illness can never be put down to a single reason. A variety of situations including emotional problems, lack of sleep, diabetes, inadequate diet, environmental factors as well as actual exposure to disease causing agents can defeat the immune system and allow candida to thrive. Mercury and candidaOf all the toxins, mercury is the most destructive to the neurological, immune and endocrine systems. It is a deadly mutagen causing DNA damage. Mercury contributes to or causes many illnesses including autism, autoimmune diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, cancers, heart disease, endocrine problems and neurological and behavioral disorders. Murray and Kidby (1975) demonstrated that Mercury is incorporated into the cell wall of yeast. This is the key to the toxic effects of candidiasis and the basis of the Herxheimer reaction. Mercury being released from dying cells is extremely toxic to surrounding tissues. The list of symptoms associated with candidiasis is the same list of symptoms associated with mercury toxicity. It is impossible to tackle candida overgrowth without removing the toxic burden of mercury. Thankfully there is a spray which can deal with both candida and mercury.

In my clinical experience few people manage to conquer a long term candida infection by diet alone. That is not to say I favour drug therapy ! There are many books offering anti candida diets which offer excellent advice about food choices to starve the yeast. However, I have devised my own combination of herbs and supplements in addition to dietary recommendations which I have found helpful for most people.

A SIMPLE HOME TEST TO SEE IF YOU MIGHT HAVE A YEAST PROBLEMFirst thing in the morning, before you putANYTHINGin your mouth, get a clear glass of water. Better still; leave it by your bed the night before. Work up a bit of saliva, and then spit it gently into the water so it settles on the top. Check the water after 30 minutes or so for up to one hour. If you have a candida yeast infection, either: strings (like legs) will travel down into the water from the saliva floating on top, or cloudy saliva will sink to the bottom of the glass, or cloudy specks will seem to be suspended in the water. If nothing develops in 30 to 45 minutes and the saliva stays on the top, you are probably candida free. Obviously this is not very scientific, however, it is a useful guide. (Lab tests use saliva so it is not so weird as you may think !) If your urine is a greenish colour and smells different, this could be another indication.

SYMPTOMS OF CANDIDACandida can exacerbate existing illnesses and invades where there is weakness. A strong immune system will deal with this but sadly few people possess immune systems capable of keeping candida under control. Thus where imbalance occurs the toxins from candida may produce pain in joints damaged by previous injury, headaches, fatigue,digestive upsets, urinary tract infections, thrush, rectal itching. athlete's foot, nail fungus, PMT, irregular periods, depression, mood swings, brain fog and poor memory,continual feeling of being run down, headaches, blurred vision,frequent minor infections, heartburn, persistent rashes,weight gain or loss, cravings especially for sugar, breathing difficulties associated with damp conditions or humid air.......... to name a few ! It is little wonder with such a lengthy, varied list of complaints and, for a long time no Lab tests, GPs did not immediately make the connection. Sadly even now, patients come along following unsuccessful discussions with their Doctor. Anti fungal drugs require long term compliance, can have nasty side effects and in many cases cause a rebound infection.

Lab Tests.There are a number of very good Laboratories able to test for yeast overgrowth and gut fermentation. I use Genova Diagnostics for patients who prefer such confirmation .These tests are mostly unavailable on the NHS.However, a thorough patient history is likely to reveal whether candida is the culprit or not.If you wish to have a Lab test, please contact me.

UNTREATED CANDIDA CAN BE SERIOUS. Over a period of time, if left untreated, candida can convert to the mycelial form which burrows into the gut wall, damaging it, and causing inflammation. Once the lining of the intestine is damaged, undigested molecules of food can enter the blood stream and cause the condition known as leaky gut syndrome.Any unsuitable foods which would normally pass out of the systemin an undigested form can now reach the blood stream causing allergy, intolerance and distress to the immune system.This is the reason why candida can cause mental issues due to the fact that the gut and brain have a direct communication.Yeast infections have also been found in patients with Leukemia and Cancer. Since cancer is also anaerobic, this is not surprising. Chemotherapy also destroys the friendly bacteria in the gut and candida is often an added complication.

Athlete's foot and nail fungus -commonly misunderstood and related to a yeast infection. This is often unsuccessfully treated with topical applications alone which may weaken the infection but do not treat the internal conditions which are supporting the organism.These problems are an indication that yeasts are a problem internally and must be addressed as such.I use a combination approach of several topical applications as well as addressing the gut issues.

Men get candida too.Whilst it is true to say I see more women than men with Candida it is not entirely a female complaint. It is important to know that women can pass on a thrush infection with sexual intercourse.One of the most frequent sites of candida infection in men is the genitals. Whilst an abundant supply of ointment and creams are available for this it is essential to treat the internal conditions that allowed the yeast to flourish. Men who suffer frequent urinary tract infections should consider that candida may be behind it. Urinary tract infection can be very persistent. However, the good news is -there is a natural supplement that can deal with it !

Other areas where yeasts can take hold are externally in the mouth, throat, arm pit and nails, however candida can be an invisible problem and should always be suspected after prolonged use of medication. Ignore it at your peril !